A viral video on Twitter shows police officers from London’s Metropolitan Police Service detaining and arrested a young Black man for having vaseline in his car.
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The video clip was uploaded by Twitter user @Obvents shows six police officers arrested a 24-year-old Black man as a witness records the situation and questions them about what happened. The officers claim there were drugs in his car along with obstructing justice. Fabyon explained that he only had vaseline in his car and the police officers assumed he was hiding drugs in the container.
A female officer said they stopped Fabyon’s vehicle because “many people use a lubricant to shove drugs up their ‘bum’ and hide them” and claimed it was probable cause. The witness tells the officer that she along with her colleagues are using stereotypes to justify the arrest.
Video is too long for me to upload just one so I broke it down.. but here is an example of what being a YOUNG BLACK KING in this unjust society is like. pic.twitter.com/459SkloVa7
— Yeng. (@ObVents) June 19, 2020
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The video has been viewed over one million times on Twitter and users are tagging the police department seeking answers for Fabyon’s arrest.
I have Vaseline in my car right now. And I’ve had Vaseline in my car for years. I’ve never been stopped for this reason. And if I was, I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t result in 6 police officers, a police van and myself in handcuffs. Wonder why? 🤨
— JJ 👑🐝💙 🇪🇺 (@_jj_blue_) June 20, 2020
If you’re black, young and drive what is considered to be a “nice” car.. don’t have Vaseline in your car apparently it’s reasonable grounds for you to be stopped and taken in for a strip search (even if you have no prior drug related issues) @metpoliceuk care to comment?
— Yeng. (@ObVents) June 19, 2020
So let me get this straight.
They didnt see the vaseline until they searched the car but the reason they searched the car is because he had vaseline? Which is sometimes used to conceal drugs?
Nah the police are washed. Honestly— Versace hottie (@KimTRILLY) June 20, 2020
The @metpoliceuk should have a better SYSTEM in place, this is happening too frequently. Imagine how this young man in feeling stopped 4 times & the final time arrested because he had Vaseline in his car. It’s racial profiling…”every black guy with a nice car is a drug dealer.”
— #BlackLivesMatter✊🏾✊🏿✊🏽✊🏼🖤 (@TafaraCelest) June 21, 2020
@metpoliceuk this is disgusting behaviour from your officers ! they are abusing their power & making the lives of innocent black men even harder😠 having vaseline in your car is not a criminal offence. being black& having a nice car is not suspicious.
— miss opinionated (@lyzamalin_x) June 21, 2020
The officer fails to mention a single ground for the requirement of reasonable suspicion. The only ground she relies on is the vaseline, which is discovered after he is stopped. A black man in a car is not enough for reasonable suspicion.
— Snigdha #BLM (@snigskitchen) June 21, 2020
A statement from the police department has yet to be released.